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Bruker MALDI-TOF AutoFlex

MALDI-ToF MS/MS and MALDI-ToF Imaging 

Over the last 25 years, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry has evolved into a powerful, highly versatile technology with a diverse range of applications. MALDI coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is used to sequence proteins, map biomolecules in tissues, identify microorganisms, and analyze several thousand biochemical assays in a day.

 

maldi spectrum macro
Characterization of poly n-butylacrylates on the autoflex® maX system. MALDI-TOF spectrum of the poly n-butylacrylate synthesized in bulk at 100°C* illustrates the dynamic range of the autoflex® maX system with signal intensities in the range of three orders of magnitude. Both very low intense signals around 35 kDa and fine spectral detail in the low mass range (~3 kDa) are clearly detected without saturation. *Agirre, J. I. Santos, A. Etxeberria, V. Sauerland, J. R. Leiza, Polym. Chem., 2013, 4 (6), 2062 – 2079

The sample for analysis by MALDI-TOF MS is prepared by mixing or coating with a solution of an energy-absorbent matrix which entraps and co-crystallizes the sample when dried. The matrix is ionized with a laser beam, and transfers the charge to the analytes, generating singly charged ions from analytes in the sample that are then accelerated. Ions are separated from each other on the basis of their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) before being detected and measured using the TOF mass analyzer.

Bruker MALDI-TOF Autoflex LRF instrument with imaging capabilities (5 micron spatial resolution) and capabilities for collisionally induced dissociation (CID) of any species. This system is equipped with the latest FlashDetector technology, enabling the instrument outstanding resolution (R > 26,000) and mass accuracy (≤  2 ppm) in reflection mode for addressing the complexity of co-polymer samples. With its real on-axis detector design (in linear mode), the system is capable of detecting extremely large molecules > 500 kDa. 
 

MALDI-TOF MS is fully supported for rapid discovery and characterization workflows including polymer analysis, glycan profiling and characterization, molecular imaging, lipid analysis, peptide mass fingerprinting, and TLC-MALDI.